Question about using unlocked iPhone 4 with AT&T microSIM and GoPhone refill card

[acousticbiker]

I'm an American living abroad and will be returning to the US for a week during the holidays. I have a factory unlocked iPhone 4 and still have my old AT&T microSIM from when I lived in the US. I was wondering whether I could use my old AT&T microSIM and simply purchase a $25 GoPhone refill card to get voice, text and data. Or do I need to get a GoPhone-specific SIM card?

I know there's been a lot of discussion about what can and cannot be done on an iPhone through GoPhone -- I don't necessarily want to rehash all of that: I just have the very specific questions above about whether the GoPhone plan requires a GoPhone-specific SIM and whether I can get a GoPhone plan up and running from just the refill card.

 

[pilot1226]

Note these links: Your mileage may vary. I haven't tried any of these so I don't know what results you'll have. Use at your own risk.


http://www.tuaw.com/2011/08/10/dear-aunt-tuaw-what-is-this-cheap-iphone-data-plan-you-speak-of/


http://www.amirnaor.com/?p=78

http://osxdaily.com/2011/03/06/iphone-4-pay-go/

http://forums.att.com/t5/Prepaid/Gophone-prepaid-micro-SIM-options-for-iPhone-4/td-p/2736651

 

[dehory]

I was wondering whether I could use my old AT&T microSIM and simply purchase a $25 GoPhone refill card to get voice, text and data. Or do I need to get a GoPhone-specific SIM card?

No, you do not need a GoPhone-specific SIM card. I'm using the GoPhone service with a microSIM that came pre-installed in an AT&T iPhone 4S. Assuming that your microSIM is still active, what you will need to do is call AT&T (as per that TUAW guide) and register the SIM card with the GoPhone service.

 

[Carl G35c]

Correct, you do not need a specific Go Phone SIM, but with ATT, once a SIM card is deactivated or service is completely halted, you can never reactivate that same SIM. You will need to get a new SIM card.

 

[dingmah]

Canadian here traveling in USA. I just activated a Gophone plan with data on my iPhone today.
Simply walk into an ATT store and activate GoPhone plan with data. Don't tell them your intention of wanting to use it with an iPhone, or else the rep will more than likely try to tell you how you can't.
Take the Gophone SIM, cut it down to size and pop it into the iPhone. Then connect to wifi to activate it on ATT, and go to http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=unlockit.co.nz&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Funlockit.co.nz%2F&ei=nJLuTrq-LsSviAK8xuX2Aw&usg=AFQjCNF1YPuAjhcf-NBp0KKbPZmshayl0w&cad=rja to change to the ATT APN. Then enjoy your prepaid iPhone with data!